by L. A. Fiore
A chill moved down my spine. “What’s that?”
“Only the most cutthroat motorcycle club on the east coast.” He announced then added, “Your father is the president.”
He knew something else. “What aren’t you telling me?”
He stopped fidgeting and met my gaze. “Your mom’s death was linked to his club. It’s why he gave you up, to get you out of his world.”
Curled up on my sofa, I studied the picture of my parents. Mom was so happy in it, so full of life, so young and to know she died not long after the photo was taken. The promise of a life we could have had, snatched away. My father believed he was responsible. His wife was killed because of him, so he pushed me as far from him as possible. Cut me from his life as efficiently as those bullets had cut her from ours. I wanted to rage, to scream and throw things, but I understood. As hard as it was to say, I understood why he acted as he had. He loved my mom, and she died because of him. How did someone come back from that? To know the one you loved most in the world was gone and they were only gone because of you. I stared into her eyes and accepted the truth. She was gone. The sob ripped from my throat as I let it out, everything I’d held in at Mr. Breen’s. My mom was dead.
It took a while for the tears to slow, but there was a large hole in my chest. I reached for my phone and called Greyson. I needed him. If anyone could get me through this he could, but the call went to voice mail. I wouldn’t leave him my news in a message. “Hey. Just wanted to say hi. I miss you. This apartment is way too big for one person. I’m counting the days.”
I hung up and called Paige.
“Hey you. Grant and I were just talking about you.”
“I met with Mr. Breen today.” My voice broke.
“Grant, grab the other line.”
“Alexis?” Grant’s worried voice came over the line.
“My mom was gunned down likely from shit related to the MC where my father is president. And he lives here in New York.”
“Oh Alexis.”
“I always hoped we’d find each other. I know they gave me up, but I really believed one day we’d be a family again; we’d be the people we were in that picture, just older. But she’s gone. She’s really gone. How can you miss someone you hardly knew?”
“We’re on the first plane out,” Grant said.
“No. I’m okay. You have the diner and the girls. I’m okay. I’ll be okay. Thank you for taking me in, for giving me a family. I don’t know that I’ve ever thanked you for that.”
Paige was crying. “Oh Alexis. You are family, never, ever forget that.”
“I love you.”
Even Grant’s voice broke. “We love you.”
Later that night the phone woke me.
“Alexis, what’s wrong?”
Greyson. Of course he would know something was wrong.
I was exhausted, had cried myself to sleep. I could have been more tactful when I answered him, but this was Greyson. “My mom is dead. My dad belongs to a ruthless MC, and he lives here in New York.”
“I’m on my way.”
I wanted to argue, but I didn’t.
“I have to tie up a few things, but I’ll be home by the end of the week. What can I do?”
“Just talk to me. I’m numb and exhausted and empty but hearing your voice makes it better.”
A slight pause before he said, “Ask me what I’m wearing.”
I grinned at the memory. “What are you wearing?”
“A speedo and I’ve shaved, hairless like one of those cats. And I’m oiled but I can’t sit down or I’ll stain the furniture and we’re only leasing it.”
I felt miserable and yet he made me laugh. “I love you.”
His voice warmed. “I know.”
“What color is this speedo?”
“What color do you want it to be?”
For the next hour, he took away the sadness by making me laugh.
I stood backstage in the small theater where my play, Monsters, was opening in the spring. The marquee was already up; the first time I saw it I lost track of time. I stood gaping and still I didn’t quite believe my eyes. Today, I didn’t stop to look. It had been two days since learning about my parents. I was dealing, but it was hard knowing the person who created me, the one I had so many questions for, was gone. I’d missed knowing her. That left a hole.
The lead actors who played the foster monsters didn’t have their costumes yet, and what costumes they were. The characters were actually depicted as monsters—they looked how my younger self had seen them. Howard had always reminded me of Oscar the Grouch. Exquisitely crafted costumes using bright fur from head to toe, but for their faces, which were painted so their expressions and mannerisms could be seen. I didn’t use actual examples of my foster monsters’ neglect but drew parallels from my own experiences and then twisted them with a comedic edge. Even knowing why they kept my parents from me, neglect was still neglect.
As I stood back stage, I watched the scene where the mommy and daddy monster were sitting in front of the television with their tray tables eating dinner while baby monster tried to get their attention. She ran through the house with scissors, played with matches, jumped around on the furniture but all of her antics went completely unnoticed. The scene ends with mommy and daddy monster shutting down the television, turning off the lights and going to bed while baby monster still stood in the middle of the room dressed like the Statue of Liberty, using the living room curtains and a Coleman lantern. I could find humor in it now, but when I was that little kid it hurt a lot.
I felt that sweet burn tickle my spine and turned to see Greyson. The hole in my heart grew smaller. We moved at the same time, crashing into each other, his arms coming around me to hold me tight.
“I’m sorry it took so long to get here.”
“You’re here now.”
He cradled my face and studied me. I saw his concern shining out of those wonderful eyes. “You’re hurting.”
“I am, but it hurts less with you here.”
“Let’s go somewhere and talk.”
“No.”
He arched his brow. “No?”
“Take me home, Greyson.” I pressed my mouth to his, “Make love to me.”
He didn’t have to be told twice. He took my hand and pulled me off the stage. We reached the lobby of the playhouse before he turned and pushed me against the wall. I had a moment to see the hungry look in his eyes before his mouth slammed down on mine. My purse dropped, my hands moved over him as I sought to touch as much of him as I could. As fast as he yanked me to him, he pulled away, retrieved my purse and continued to drag me from the building. He led me to a sexy black sports car, one very similar to the one we drove in Chicago. He practically closed the door on me before sliding across the hood and climbing in. His hand snaked around my neck, pulling my mouth to his for another searing kiss. We peeled from the curb.
Somehow we made it back to the apartment in one piece. He parked the car illegally. Rounded it, took my hand and tossed the keys to the doorman.
“Take care of that.”
He didn’t wait for an answer. His strides were so long I was practically running to keep up with him. Once the elevator doors closed, he crushed his mouth on mine as he worked to get my blouse off. My fingers fumbled as I tried to yank his shirt over his head, his mouth pulling from me only long enough so I could discard it. The elevator opened and we stumbled into the foyer.
“Your shoes,” I breathlessly whispered that complaint before finding the crook of his neck and sinking my teeth in. He growled and lifted me into his arms. He managed to keep kissing me while he punched in the code for the door. He shut the door with his foot.
“Tell me you bought a bed,” he demanded.
“King-size.”
He growled again, low in his throat, before taking the steps two at a time.
“Don’t you want the tour?” I teased.
“After.”
Greyson
We left
a trail of clothes to the bedroom. I tossed her on the bed and landed on top of her. I saw the chain around her neck and followed it until I found the locket. My eyes moved from the locket to her face.
“My mother’s.”
“From your dad.”
“A graduation present.”
That sadness was back. I could take that away, at least for a little while, so I kissed her, devoured her; her taste was my drug and I’d been without it for too long. She spread her legs in invitation and I didn’t make her wait, filling her in one powerful thrust. My mouth closed over her breast, her hands moved over my body, squeezing my ass. Our hips moved together, the sound of our skin slapping together and the scent of our arousal filled the room. I grabbed her thighs, lifted her hips and pounded into her.
I was home.
She came on a moan. I came right after her.
I dropped my head on her shoulder. I fucking missed this.
“Welcome home, Greyson.”
My head lifted, her bright eyes made my heart ache in a good way. As soon as possible, I wanted my ring on her finger.
“What are you thinking,” she asked, brushing my hair from my face.
“I love you.”
She moved her hips. “I know.”
Wrapping my arm around her waist, I flipped us so she straddled me. Sliding my hands over her body, I cupped her breasts. They were perfect, just like the rest of her. She closed her eyes and drew her lower lip between her teeth. I jerked my hips and she moaned. She took her time riding my cock. I was so hard it hurt, but I let her play until I couldn’t take anymore and rolled her to her back. Her legs wrapped around my waist and I hammered into her until we both came.
We were in the living room, sitting on the floor. Alexis was wearing my tee. I had pulled on my jeans.
“My stuff is arriving tomorrow.”
“We need furniture.”
“Yeah.” I looked around at the space. As soon as I saw it, I knew this was home. “I think we should be sparse though.”
“I agree. I like all the open space. And that room in the back is perfect for you.”
“Yeah.”
I brushed the hair from her face, ran my thumb along her cheek. She was trying, but the sadness behind her eyes was killing me. “Talk to me.”
“I don’t understand how I can miss her so much when I don’t even remember her.”
“She was your mom. She loved you, you lost her.”
“I always hoped we’d be a family again and it hurts to know we never will be.” Her voice broke. I pulled her close, pressing her face to my chest. I ached for her, wished I could take her pain, but all I could do was hold her, love her, show her she wasn’t alone and never would be again.
“I want to visit her grave. Mr. Breen shared where she was buried. He doesn’t think I should visit, but I need to.”
“I’ll take you.”
“I want to visit my father.”
“Okay.”
She glanced up at me. “No objections?”
“No, but we’ll need to proceed carefully with him. I’d like to look into his MC, get a feel for what we’re getting into.”
“Okay.”
I grinned. “No objections?”
“No.”
Even with the smile, there was pain burning brightly in her dark eyes. Cradling her face in my hand, I kissed her and filled it with everything she made me feel. Lowering her to her back, I spent the next hour doing all I could to remove that sadness.
Alexis
I woke in the morning; stretched and ached in places I hadn’t ached in a long time.
Greyson.
I reached for him, but his side of the bed was empty. Yesterday, he didn’t push when it came to my dad and he didn’t go all cavemen when I said I wanted to meet him despite the danger. He had been exactly what I needed him to be. My heart still hurt, but it hurt less.
Reaching for his pillow, I inhaled his scent. He was here. His scent was on the sheets. I only needed to walk from my room to find him. The memory came back so clearly, biology that first day and my scripted story of our romance rivaling the greatest romances of history and how our meeting was the beginning of the rest of our lives. We were there, at the start of something beautiful.
Climbing from bed, I pulled on his tee and went in search of him. He was in the kitchen making coffee. He had pulled on his jeans, his bare back to me. I leaned against the counter and couldn’t control the smile. Every morning I would get to wake up next to him, I’d get to see him just like that making coffee. It was very surreal when a dream came true.
“Are you just going to stare,” he teased.
“It doesn’t feel real.”
He turned and pushed his hands into his pockets. “I woke and spent the first hour just watching you sleep.”
A person shouldn’t be so happy. “Next time wake me up.”
“How are you?”
“It hurts less today than it did yesterday. That’s thanks to you.”
Tenderness swept his face, but turned wicked when he eyed me from head to toe. “What are you wearing under my tee?”
I lifted it a little. “Nothing.”
He moved so fast, lifting me over his shoulder. His hand moved to my bare ass where he squeezed. I laughed the whole way to our bedroom.
Greyson and I set up his studio. He had crates and crates filled with paintings that were each one more beautiful than the next. He was also working on a sculpture. The ones I had seen at his shows were amazing, how he twisted metal and molded clay and carved stone, so I was more than a little surprised, and disappointed, that I couldn’t see this one. In fact, I wasn’t even allowed to touch it. It stood in the far corner of the studio, covered by a large sheet.
While he worked on setting up his paints, I sat on the floor going through his paintings. Most were landscapes in the cities he had visited during his touring years—a street in Paris, a gondola in Venice, a vineyard in Tuscany.
“These are beautiful. Why aren’t these in the shows?”
When he didn’t answer I looked over to find him watching me. “I painted those for you. You couldn’t be with me, so I brought the places to you.”
Just when I thought I couldn’t love him more. “I love you.”
His smile stilled my heart. “I know.”
“Is there a place in your travels you really want to see again? I am ready and willing to travel.”
“If you are willing to travel, let’s go to Ireland. You can see Grandfather, the estate.”
I was teasing about traveling. I only wanted to be where he was, but seeing his home, seeing Callum again. I really wanted to do that. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah. Once we get settled, I’ll call Grandfather and arrange it.”
“I’d love that. Speaking of places, I have a request.”
“Anything.”
“Would you recreate the bluffs on our bedroom wall?”
His expression softened as he remembered too. “Yeah, I can do that.”
“I don’t want to take you from your commissions, so whenever you can fit it in.”
“I’ll start it today.”
Greyson
I moved the mattress to another room. I didn’t want Alexis seeing this until it was done. I stood back and studied the scene coming to life on the wall. It was so easy to go back, to remember her at sixteen and how my heart raced in my chest and my palms itched to touch her.
My cell rang. I wasn’t going to answer it until I saw Colin’s name. He stayed in San Francisco. Unlike when we first started, he didn’t need to follow me. Technology made it very easy to continue to work together even being on opposite coasts.
“Hey, Colin.”
“Hello, Greyson. How are you settling in?”
I woke with her hair on my pillow and her scent on me. I was fucking settling in just fine.
“We’re great. A long time coming.”
“I’m happy to hear that. I do have some opportunities for yo
u. I’ll send you an email.”
“Sounds great.”
“Your fan mail is piling up. I’m sending it to you, but that’s actually why I’m calling.”
There was an odd note in his voice. “Is something wrong?”
“There was one letter that was, well unpleasant to put it nicely. I found a letter on similar stationery in your desk when I packed it up.”
I’d forgotten all about that disturbing letter. “I’d gotten that right before Grandfather’s accident. Did you read it?”
“I did. I hope that is okay.”
“Yeah, is this other the same?”
“I’m afraid so.”
Concern twisted in my gut. “Was there a postmark?”
“No and no return address.”
“So whoever is delivering them is doing it by hand.” That was a good thing. They were in San Francisco and I was clear across the country. Alexis was clear across the country. “Can you send them to me?”
“Yes. May I ask what you intend?”
“I want to have them in case I need to go to the cops.”
“It’s part of the package, the unwanted attention, the unsettling letters, but I have to say these bother me more than any I’ve read. I think caution is wise.”
I didn’t like it, not with Alexis coming back into my life. I wasn’t giving her up, no fucking way. I waited too long to be with her, but I didn’t like the thought of her in harm’s way because of me. If needed, I’d hire someone to look into it, but my hope was it wouldn’t get that far.
“I’ll be cautious.”
“Excellent. I will get these in the post immediately. Please send my regards to Alexis. And check your email for the upcoming events and let me know if you are interested in any of them.”
“Thanks, Colin.”
“Talk soon.”
I dropped my phone on the floor. I wasn’t really worried about the letters and I sure as hell wasn’t going to think about them now. Life was too sweet to think about the sour.
Alexis
Greyson worked on the mural for two weeks. We took another bedroom because I wasn’t allowed to see it until it was done. Day and night, he was in our room. I was in the living room working one night when he joined me. He wore a bandana when he painted so his hair stayed out of his face. I loved that he had grown his hair out. I had missed those long locks. The boxes from Callum were spread around the room as I organized while reading.